The Washington critic., 1887-12-20
THE WAR CLOUD.
Austria Only Waiting to he Certain of Ger
many's support.

Austria Only Waiting to he Certain of Ger
many's support.
LONDON, Dec. 20.--The series of mill
tary councils which have been held in
Vienna during the last ten days, to-
gether with the fulminations of the
Austrian press against Russia, presum-
bly, inspired, invite the belief that Aus
tria is almost persuaded to take the des-
perate chance of securing an unqualified
alliance with Germany, or, failing in
this, to make equally good terms with
the Cars Government if possible.
THE SITUATION
which now presents itself makes it
reasonably, If not absolutely, certain
that any European war, no matter by
whom waged, must involve the Balkan
question before its termination, and
that this would draw Austria into the
conflict goes without saying. II Austria
were absolutely sure of Germany's active
support in war with Russia she would
not hesitate moment to begin hostili-
ties, but of that she cannot be certain.
If Austria should be the aggressor, Ger
many would be sure to crawl through
one Of the numerous loopholes con-
veniently left open by the loose terms
of the Triple Alliance, and the weaker
parties TO the pact would be left to battle
hopelessly with an enemy whose mill
tary strength is almost beyond esti-
mate.
If on the other hand Russia should
precipitate hostilities, Austrian territory
would be the battle ground, and Austria
the chief sufferer in blood, treasure, de-
vastation of her country, and forever
lost opportunities.
GERMANY's DESIRES AND AIMS.
Germany's desires and Germany's
aims, what Germany will permit, and
what she will not allow. have been so
persistently put forward in order to
attest Germany's superlative greatness
that the belief has become almost gen.
eral throughout Europe that no war can
be fought without her consent and no
battle lost to the side upheld by her
arms.
Russia is the only power in Europe
that has refused to accept this notion as
the gospel which must prevail, and the
time is not far distant when Europe
will express its feeling of gratitude to
the Cars Government for having
pricked the German bubble and dis
closed the emptiness of the pretensions
of the German Empire to the position
of arbiter OF the peace of Europe.
1t would seem to be perfectly plain,
even to most befogged mind, that Ger
many doesn't want TO fight. She wants
to play the role of the big dog of the ken
mel, and by an occasional growl or
hoarse bark awe the little ones into sub
mission, but when another big dog comes
| along disposed to devour anything Of the
canine species that opposes him, the
menacing noises will subside.
! In the circumstances Austria would
do well to bank very slightly upon the
ambiguous agreement she has made
with Germany and form an alliance, if
| possible, with Russia, her natural ally.
| Russia wants certain advantages in the
Balkans, and these she will have in
spite of Austria. The latter also desires
certain advantages in the same region,
which she cannot obtain without Rus
sia's consent and assistance as well, and
the prediction is not unreasonable that
Austria and Russia will soon be found
working together rather than warning
with one another.
RIFLES FOR BULGARIA.
SOFIA, Dec. 20.--AIr. Petrolf, Bulga.
rian Minister Of War, has demanded Q
| Government credit for the purchase OF